These albums are just like a good movie. Only, you know, with music.
Welcome to Watchmojo.com, and today we're counting down our list of the Top 10 Concept Albums
For this list, we're looking at concept albums that have recieved critical acclaim, fandom and a lasting legacy
For those unaware, a concept album is an album that either tells a story throughout the album
or has unifying themes throughout, tying togheter the songs thematically.
Also, a theme has to be something complex or thought-provoking, like Radiohead's OK Computer.
Which means a group of love songs does not constitute as a concept album.
Sorry Taylor, you don't count.
Kicking off our list is the classic 1972 progressive rock album from Jethro Tull.
The album presents a musical adaptation of an eight-year old fictional genius' poem.
Of course, there is no real poem, as all the lyrics were penned by frontman Ian Anderson,
Notable for including only one two-part song on the whole album, the 43 minute LP is a classic.
Intended as a satire of overly ambicious rock albums, this album proved a major success comercially and critically
even though many listeners missed the joke.
This album is the full-length debut for the progressive rock band The Mars Volta. And what a debut it was.
This album is a musical adaptation of a short story written by lead singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala and sound technician Jeremy Michael Ward
about a man who falls into a coma after overdosing on morphine and rat poison.
With Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea playing bass on the album it became an instant success
and appeared on many 'Best Of' lists for 2003. Showing that The Mars Volta will be a force to be reckoned with.
Yet another progressive rock entry, Dream Theater created a masterpiece with this album.
Metropolis Part 2 is the sequel to a song on a previous record about the story of a man who discovers his past life.
Heavily influenced by the 1991 flim Dead Again, and featuring some of the most complex song arrangments ever recorded,
the album found its way to the heart of critics and audiences alike.
Dream Theater created a classic with this 1999 album,
which will go on to be voted Top Progressive Rock Album of All Time, by the readers of Rolling Stone.
Hey look, another progressive rock album.
After heavy pressure from the record studio to release a radio-friendly album, Rush decided to ignore their orders and release 2112.
Ironically, this will become the album that would be their breakthrough into the mainstream.
The album tells the story of a man living in a dystopian society, who was banished for discovering and playing music.
Raw, powerful and musically complex, it still played live in concerts to this day and is a serious fan favourite.
Not too bad for three Canadian boys.
This album from progressive metal band Queensrÿche tells the powerful story of a drug addict
who becomes disillusioned with society and becomes an assassin of political leaders.
With a dark storyline matchin its ferocious music, the album proved a success
despite the heavy subject matter, going platinum in the US.
It was also a critical success, and has since become known as one of the greatest heavy metal albums of all time.
Proving that metal and bleakness can still be acclaimed, despite what some people may think.
Aah, remember this album?
It was impossible to go anywhere without hearing a track from this modern pop-punk classic, back in 2004.
Going for a more musically diverse album than their previous ones,
Green Day made an album about an antihero named Jesus of Suburbia,
who moves to the big city after out of the hatred for small town life.
Kicking at number 1 in 19 countries and eventually selling over 15 million copies worldwide, the album proved to be a major success.
The concept also inspired a stage adaptation from the same name, which has actually won itself a few Tony Awards.
This glam rock album influenced many of the entries of this list and is perhaps known as Bowie's finest moment.
The album tells a story of Ziggy Stardust, an alien rock star who takes the form of a human
and presents a message of hope for the last five years of Earth.
Originally inteded to be a soundtrack album for a companion stage production,
the LP was a major hit in Bowie's native country of England, achieving platinum status.
It is since become known as one of the greatest albums of all time.
This album took the world by storm in the summer of 1967, spending 27 weeks at number 1 in England
and 15 weeks in the US, eventually selling over 30 million copies.
Paul McCartney had the idea to release an album as the fictional Sgt. Pepper Band, giving them total creative freedom.
A result which became revolutionary in music.
Time magazine called it a historical departure in the progress of music and its lasting legacy is monumental,
given the top spot in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums Ever list.
In the summer of 1969, The Who released this classic about a dumb, deaf and blind boy,
as he navigates his way through life.
While Quadrophenia was in the running, it is this album the earns the number 2 spot on our list,
for having an arguably grander scale.
The album was so popular upon release that it became adapted into other forms,
including a film adaptation and a Broadway play.
This hard rocker has since gone on to sell over 20 million copies.
It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
A rock opera of epic proportions.
Before we unveil our top pick for the top concept album, let's take a look at a few honorable mentions.
While The Dark Side of the Moon may have sold more copies, it is The Wall that gets our top spot.
The album tells the story of Pink as he becomes frustrated with life and builds a metaphorical wall between him and society.
Roger Waters based this story on his own personal feelings regarding his relationship with his fans.
Regarded as one of the greatest albums ever,
it was adapted into a film and it still extravagantly played live to this day.
It was a terrific stand-off for the classic lineup.
Do you agree with our list?
What concept album do you think it should have been included?
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Subtitles by: Argentinian Kaiser, Approved by: ΛDΛM